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Kenya minister held after protest Row over Kenya minister's arrest
(about 4 hours later)
Kenyan Health Minister Charity Ngilu has been arrested, accused of helping a protester escape police custody. Kenyan Health Minister Charity Ngilu is engaged in a stand-off with police at the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters in the capital, Nairobi.
Ms Ngilu apparently forced her way into a Nairobi police station and freed the woman's rights activist on Tuesday. She was summoned to report there after being arrested on Thursday for helping a protester escape police custody.
Her lawyer, Paul Muite, labelled the arrest "nonsensical", saying Ms Ngilu helped the female protester to hospital after she had been beaten by police. But she has locked herself in her car inside the building's grounds and is demanding to be freed or charged.
The activists were objecting to plans by MPs to award themselves a $20m bonus before parliament is dissolved. Ms Ngilu's supporters say she is being intimidated because she is standing up to President Mwai Kibaki.
This is the first time a minister has been arrested since President Mwai Kibaki came to power in 2003. She is the registered leader of the Narc coalition and refuses to stand down in favour of Mr Kibaki ahead of December's elections.
The law is not going to be compromised in this country Eric KiraithePolice spokesmanThe law is not going to be compromised in this country Eric KiraithePolice spokesman
Ms Ngilu was first arrested on Thursday but was released on police bail overnight. But police commissioner Major General Hussein Ali said she had committed a crime by storming into a police station and freeing a women's rights activist.
She was asked to report back on Friday morning to the Criminal Investigations Department, where she was rearrested and is still being held. He, however, declined to say whether the minister would be charged.
It is still not clear whether the minister will be taken to court. "I am expecting to be taken to court and if they will not do so they should allow me to go back to my office and carry on with my duties, if they need me they will get me there," Ms Ngilu told journalists at the gates of the CID headquarters.
The BBC's David Ogot in Nairobi says tension is high at the CID headquarters where the health minister and her lawyer have been detained since early morning. Her lawyer, Paul Muite, labelled the arrest "nonsensical", saying Ms Ngilu helped the female protester to hospital after she had been beaten by police.
"I have been detained here to deny me a chance to go to the high court to file a case seeking to have Ms Ngilu released or produced in court. They are doing this purposely and it is all political," Mr Muite told reporters behind the police gates. 'Wrongful arrest'
Detention 'justified' The protester, Anne Njogu and four others, were arrested after objecting to plans by MPs to award themselves a $20m bonus before parliament is dissolved.
The activist, Anne Njogu, who is also the head of Centre for Rights Education and Awareness, was arrested along with four other demonstrators. She was taken to hospital by Ms Ngilu on Tuesday, but rearrested on Wednesday.
The protesters say MPs do not deserve such a huge pay-offShe was taken to hospital by Ms Ngilu on Tuesday, but rearrested on Wednesday. The protesters say MPs do not deserve such a huge pay-offA day later a judge ordered all five to be released, saying their detention had been illegal. The five now plan to sue the police for wrongful arrest.
A day later a judge ordered all five to be released, saying their detention had been illegal. The five now plan to sue the police for wrongful arrest.
Police refused to give details of Ms Ngilu's arrest, which happened on Thursday, but said her detention was justified, the Associated Press reported.Police refused to give details of Ms Ngilu's arrest, which happened on Thursday, but said her detention was justified, the Associated Press reported.
"The law is not going to be compromised in this country. It does not matter your station in life," police spokesman Eric Kiraithe told AP."The law is not going to be compromised in this country. It does not matter your station in life," police spokesman Eric Kiraithe told AP.
MPs are to vote on a government proposal to give them a 12.5% increase on their pay and allowances backdated to January 2003. This is the first time a minister has been arrested since President Kibaki came to power in 2003.
Kenya will hold elections in December and President Mwai Kibaki will be seeking a second term in office. MPs are to vote on a government proposal to give them a bonus equivalent to 12.5% increase in their pay and allowances backdated to January 2003.
Over the past four years, Mr Kibaki's administration has been hit by several massive corruption scandals, which have damaged the president's credibility with Western donors. Correspondent say Kenya's MPs are seen as lazy and self-interested.
Some donors have estimated that up to $1bn had been lost to graft between 2002 and 2005. There are often not enough in parliament to pass legislation - unless it concerns a pay rise for themselves.
They already earn more than $10,000 a month in salaries and expenses, much of which is tax-free, in a country where most live on less than $1 a day.
President Kibaki is due to seek re-election in December but it is not clear which party he will represent.
He was elected in 2003 at the head of a wide coalition, which has since fractured.